Jamaican and Caribbean number one, Chris Binnie, cruised to his 8th National title, while former junior Caribbean Champion, Akelia Wiltshire won her first senior crown as the curtains came down on the 2018 BCIC sponsored All Jamaica Senior Squash Championships on the weekend.
The overseas based Binnie put in a workman like performance to beat arch rival, Bruce Burrowes 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 to win his seventh consecutive championship; taking his career title to eight which brought him a step closer to the all-time record of 13, currently held by Jamaican squash titan, Wayne Burrowes.
On the Women’s side the Guayanese Akeila Wiltshire, a student of UWI won her first major senior title after turning back younger sister, Larissa Wiltshire 11-3, 11-6, 11-8 .
Former junior national champion, Tahjia Lumley dispatched former senior champion, Dane Schwier 12-10, 11-4, 11-8 to place third in the men’s competition. Similarly, under 17 girl’s champion, Mia Mahfood beat arch rival Mia Lake 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 to grab the last spot on the podium in the ladies category.
Recapping his terrific weekend Binnie, who won bronze at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in July; silver at the Pan American Squash Championships in August and continues to play on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) circuit said, “It’s always a thrill to play internationally, particularly when I represent Jamaica but playing on home soil and winning my national championships, it never gets better than this.”
Marketing Manager for tournament sponsors BCIC, Simone Foote said, “We had some very exciting matches throughout the tournament because Jamaica’s best senior players were competing but it was particularly satisfying to see the younger players being a force in this competition and more than anything else, there was great camaraderie and good sportsmanship.”
Overall more than 60 players contested the various categories of the championships which included Men’s A, B, C and Veterans as well as Ladies A and B. Junior national team member, Mia Todd won the Tony Burrowes Award for the most improved player and Robert Roper, who won the Men’s B draw, took the David Bicknell Award for Sportsmanship.